Acid Washing Your Pool

Algae build-up and hard water can cause staining of your pool’s surface, making your pool water appear murky and dirty. Acid washing is a process that helps to remove these stains and get your pool back to its original state.

As you can probably guess from the name, acid-washing involves a lot of powerful chemicals that can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. This is why it’s best to call in a professional who knows the right way to handle the job. Read on to learn more about the process and how to decide when to acid wash a pool.

What is Acid Washing?

Acid washing is a process where chemicals (usually hydrochloric acid) are mixed with water and sprayed onto the surface of a pool to remove grime and build-up. After the solution sits for about 30 seconds, a large brush is used to scrub away any remaining stains.

After the pool has been scrubbed down, it needs to be rinsed with water to prevent the acid from permanently etching the plaster. Depending on how stained a pool’s surface is, the process may need to be repeated several times. Any leftover water from the acid wash process will also need to be disposed of properly.

How Often is Acid Washing Necessary?

If you regularly treat and maintain your pool’s water, you should only need to acid wash your pool every five to seven years. Any more than that and you risk permanently damaging your pool’s plaster coating.

With proper care and maintenance, the need to acid wash your pool should be rare or maybe even unnecessary. If your pool is only slightly dirty, manually scrubbing the walls with a chlorine solution should be enough to keep it clean.

Is Acid Washing Safe?

Acid washing involves the use of very harsh chemicals. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you run the risk of seriously damaging your pool and hurting yourself or others around you.

When done incorrectly, pool acid washing can lead to:

● Chemical burns on the skin
● Lung damage (from breathing in chemicals)
● Pool surface discoloration
● Severe pool surface damage

This is why it’s so important to call in a professional. Pool cleaning technicians not only have access to the right protective gear (such as plastic suits, rubber gloves, and safety goggles) but also have years of experience on how to acid wash a pool safely and effectively.

Professional Acid Washing Services with Pink Dolphin

With the help of a quality pool care company and proper maintenance, your pool should rarely need to be acid washed. If you do find that algae build-up or hard water has left your pool surface stained, it’s important to seek the help of a professional to fix it safely.

Pink Dolphin has been helping happy clients all over the Northwest Valley of Phoenix, AZ for many years. We work with our clients to provide the best service on a regular basis to keep their pools looking great and running at their best.

If you think your pool could use an acid wash treatment, reach out to us at (602) 688-PINK.